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IED Blast Kills Two Soldiers; DoD Identifies Earlier Casualties

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2007  A roadside bomb killed two U.S. soldiers in Baghdad today, and the Defense Department has identified seven soldiers and a Marine who died in Iraq earlier.

The soldiers killed today were assigned to Multinational Division Baghdad. They died when an improvised explosive device struck their vehicle during a combat security patrol in a southern section of the Iraqi capital, officials said.

Their names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department has released the names of seven soldiers and a Marine who died recently supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

-- Army Sgt. Nimo W. Tauala, 29, of Honolulu, died March 17 in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, of a non-combat related injury. The death is under investigation. Tauala was assigned to the 209th Aviation Support Battalion, Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

-- Army Pfc. Anthony A. Kaiser, 27, of Narrowsburg, N.Y., died March 17 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire. Kaiser was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.

-- Army Sgt. 1st Class John S. Stephens, 41, of San Antonio, died March 15 in Tikrit, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his patrol came under attack during combat operations. Stephens was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.